Apparatus for applying carrying handles of paper or plastics material to a web

ABSTRACT

U-shaped carrying handles have been made from elongated strips of paper or plastics material in that both end portions have been folded through 90*. The handles are applied to a web intended to make carrying handles in such a manner that the end portions of the strip lead in the direction of travel of the web. The strip is first gripped in known manner in its intermediate portion. The strip end portions are folded through 90* opposite to the direction of travel of the strip. The resulting legs of the carrying handle are gripped at their end portions and advanced further. The intermediate portion is released. The carrying handles are turned over through 180* opposite to the direction of travel of the gripped ends and with their now leading legs are connected to the web extending in the same direction.

United States Patent [151 3,

Wesselmann et al. 1 Ma 2 197 2 54 APPARATUS FOR APPLYING 2,177,117 10/1939 Potdevin ..93/8 WA CARRYING HANDLES OF PAPER ()R 2,625,862 1/1953 Bokenkroger et 211. ..93/8 WA T E 2,969,907 1/1961 Hubert 93/8 WA PLAS ICS MATERIAL To A B 3,034,409 5/1962 Finke et al.. ..93/8 WA [72] Inventors: Heinz Wesselmann, Brochterbeck; Fried- 3,069,303 12/1962 Scholle ..93/8 WA X helm Brinkmeier, Ladbergen, both of Germany Primary ExaminerBenjamin A. Borchelt Assistant ExaminerG. E. Montone [73] Assignee: Wlndmoller & Holscher, Lengench, Atmmey Fleit Gipple & Jacobson Westphalia, Germany [22] Filed: July 17, 1969 ABSTRACT 211 App] 342 633 U-shaped carrying handles have been made from elongated strips of paper or plastics material in that both end portions have been folded through 90. The handles are applied to a Fol'elgn Apphcauon Prlomy Dam web intended to make carrying handles in such a manner that July 17 1968 Germany up 17 69 8803 the end portions of the strip lead in the direction of travel of the web. The strip is first gripped in known manner in its inter- 52 US. Cl ..156/443 93/8 wA 93 mediate p r n. The strip end portions are folded through 156/227 opposite to the direction of travel of the strip. The resulting 51 Im Cl ..B3lb1/86 legs the carrying handle are g'iPPed heir end PomS WA 44 and advanced further. The intermediate portion is released. [58] Field of Search 156/227 3 The carrying handles are turned over through opposite to [56] References Cited the direction of travel of the gripped ends and with their now leading legs are connected to the web extending in the same UNITED STATES PATENTS direction- 2,060,450 1 III 936 Steen ..93/8 WA 10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAY em a. 660,204

sum 1 m 4 INVENTORS Heinz WESSELMANN FriedhelmBRlNKMElER 75 By z gy fi their RNEYS PATENTEDMAY 21912 3660204 INVENTORS Heinz WESSELMANN FriedhelmBRlNKMElER By 7 PATENTEDMAY 21972 3660204 sum 3 or a INVENTORS Heinz WESSELMANN B F'riedheImBRINKMEIER PATENTEDMAY 2:912 3,660,204

saw w 4 INVENTORS Heinz WESSELMANN Friedhelm BRINKMEIER their A RNEYS APPARATUS FOR APPLYING CARRYING HANDLES OF PAPER OR PLASTICS MATERIAL TO A WEB This invention relates to a process and apparatus for providing a web of paper, plastics material or the like, which web is intended for use in the manufacture of carrying bags, with U- Sl-IAPED CARRYING HANDLES MADE FROM ELON- GATED STRIPS OF PAPER OR PLASTIC MATERIAL BY FOLDING BOTH END PORTIONS THROUGH 90.

In the manufacture of the known U-shaped handles, a striplike blank is moved to the folding cylinder parallel to the longitudinal axis of the same and is received by the grippers carried by said cylinder. This will result in a change of the direction of travel of the strip through 90 from the previous direction of travel. As the operation is continued, the strip held on the folding cylinder is provided in a scoring station with score lines extending at an angle of 45 and facilitating the subsequent exact folding of the two strip end portions by means of a folding device. In the folding zone, the two strip end portions are folded out of the peripheral surface of the folding cylinder and turned through 90 opposite to the direction of travel with the aid of suitably arranged folding plates.

The resulting U-shaped carrying handles must now be applied to a moving web which has already been provided with perforations or incisions in the region to be provided with the carrying handles. This web is subsequently formed into a tubing and separated into individual tube sections, which are already provided with carrying handles and which are then folded and adhered to form the bottom of the bag. Because manufacturing requirements call for forming the bottom at the leading end of the tube section, each carrying handle must be applied to the moving web at the trailing end of the web portion intended to make a carrying bag, so that the legs of the carrying handles lead the intermediate portion of the carrying handle in the direction of travel of the web. As has been described hereinbefore, the carrying handles are formed on the folding cylinder in that the strip end portions are folded oppositely to the direction of travel so that the carrying handles delivered by the folding cylinder have leading intermediate portions. In a known process of applying the carrying handles to a web and an apparatus for carrying out that process, the completed carrying handles with a leading grip portion are moved into a stationary, magazine-like holder and this holder deflects each carrying handle from the folding cylinder and arrests each handle. The magazine is arranged so that the exposed leg end portions of the U-shaped carrying handles are closely over the web, which is trained in this area over a reversing pulley and travels in a direction that is opposite to the direction of rotation of the folding cylinder. Whenever a web section having the length which is required for the making of a carrying bag has passed, a carrying handle is applied to the trailing end portion of the previously perforated web section. To apply the carrying handle, the adhesive-coated leg end portions of the carrying handle are blown down by a suddenly initiated air stream onto the passing trailing end portion of the web section and are applied to the same by pressure rollers, which are swung down immediately thereafter, so that the carrying handles are pulled out of the magazine oppositely to their original direction of travel.

Two such carrying handles are applied in pairs one beside the other to the web of plastics material to lie opposite to each other on the inside surfaces of the tubing during the subsequent formation of the tubing. The grip portions then lie on the inside of the leg end portions, as is desirable for the subsequent gripping. Individual tube sections are then severed from the preperforated tubing and the leading end of each tube section is completely folded to form a bottom.

The applying process which is carried out with that apparatus has the disadvantage that the exposed leg end portions of the carrying handle in the magazine will not be at an exactly spaced distance from the web if the handle is slightly deformed so that an exact application of the carrying handles is rendered more difficult. Because the pressure rollers are swung down immediately after the handle leg end portions have been blown down, there will be in any case a relative movement between the adhesive-coated leg end portions which have been blown down and the web so that the latter is smeared. When the carrying handle is to be applied it must be accelerated from the standstill to the web speed. Depending on the web speed, this will result in smaller or larger inaccuracies in the application step and also in a smearing of adhesive. The different springback due to the 45 folds has also different effects on the forces which act as the carrying handle is pulled out of the magazine so that the inaccuracy of the application step may be increased.

It is an object of the invention to provide a process and apparatus which enables a neat and accurate application of the carrying handles whereas the disadvantages which have been described are avoided.

This object is accomplished according to the invention in that the carrying handles formed on a folding cylinder and having leading grip portions are not arrested in a magazine and are not subsequently accelerated in the opposite direction but without an interruption of their travel are turned so that the originally trailing legs of the carrying handles lead as they are applied to the moving web. The process according to the invention is characterized in that the strip is first gripped in known manner in its intermediate portion and the strip end portions are folded through opposite to the direction of travel of the strip, the resulting legs of the carrying handle are then gripped at their end portions and advanced further, whereas the intermediate portion is released, the carrying handles are then turned over through opposite to the direction of travel of the gripped ends and with their now leading legs are connected to the web moving in the same direction. Hence, the process according to the invention results in a positive control of the carrying handle in each phase of the operation and enables a supply of the carrying handle to the web at the direction of travel of the latter. This control of the carrying handle and the fact that a relative velocity between the carrying handle and the web during the application of the web is avoided will prevent an inaccurate positioning of the carrying handle just as a smearing of the web.

In a development of the invention, the carrying handles may be turned over in that they are moved past a stationary turning plate, such as is known for the folding of the legs of the carrying handles through 90.

An apparatus for carrying out this process may be characterized in that a known folding cylinder serving to fold the strip end portions through 90 is succeeded by a turning cylinder which rotates oppositely to the folding cylinder and which comprises a gripper for receiving and holding the carrying handles, which are supplied by the folding cylinder with trailing legs, and a stationary turning device for the carrying handles is disposed near the peripheral surface of the turning cylinder. The turning cylinder receives the carrying handles, which are supplied from the folding cylinder with leading grip portions, and continues to move them initially with leading grip portions until the carrying handles are gripped by the turning device and by the latter are turned to extend opposite to the direction of travel whereas the gripped leg end portions continue to move with the turning cylinder.

Both gripper halves of the gripper of the turning cylinder are desirably movable and the trailing half is opened to receive the carrying handles whereas the leading half is opened to deliver the carrying handles to the web. This operation will take into account the fact that the carrying handles extend forwardly in the direction of rotation of the turning cylinder as they are received and extend opposite to that direction of rotation as they are delivered. It will also be desirable in accordance with the invention if the leading and/or trailing gripper half comprises a pressure contact member which is curved to conform to the peripheral surface of the turning cylinder. The pressure contact member of the leading gripper half ensures that the handle legs remain in pressure contact with the folding cylinder as they are received whereas the free end portions are folded into the gripper opening, e.g., by

the web, e.g'., by adhesion, are forced against the web.

The turning device associated with the turning cylinder may desirably consist of a guide plate which extends around part of the periphery of the turning cylinder and which adjacent to the receiving zone has a width corresponding to the overall width of the carrying handles whereas the width of said plate in a succeeding portion is smaller than the, distance between the inside edges of the carrying handles, and glue-applying segments for applying glue tothe adheringtportions of the carrying handle legs are provided in the latter portion. To prevent a smearing of the tuming'cylinder during a disturbance of the operation, it is possiblein a further embodimentof the invention to .disengage the glue-applying segments under control of a photocell control arrangement or the" like when'a carrying handle fails to be presented. I I

' It is also proposed according to the invention that the turning cylinder is so driven by a varying ratio transmission that it rotates at the peripheral velocity of the folding cylinder as it receives the carrying handles and at the web' velocity as it delivers the carrying handles, the web velocity being variable independence on size. The varying ratio transmission may 'suitably consist of a cam-controlled differential gear having a cam which is selected in dependence on size- If a folding knife is provided on the folding cylinder to introduce the leg end portions of the carrying handles into the gripper of the turning cylindenthe end portions of the legs of the carrying handles musthave a relatively large fold-in length allowance because the folding gripper, cannot be closed until the folding knife has .been withdrawn from the gripper and the end'portions of the legs of the. carrying handles might spring back from the gripper before thesame is closed if these end portionsare very short. ,For this reason it-is'another feature of the invention that the trailing gripper half is adapted'to be moved out of the peripheral surface of the turning cylinder when it is opened so that this gripper half serves also to infold theend portions of the legs of the carrying handles because the jaw of that gripper half is disposed above the .leg end portions during the opening move'mentof the gripper and pulls in these end portions between the jaws as'the gripper is closed. The trailing gripper half may suitably be mounted on a slider, which is movableby means of a stationary control cam in a substantially radial guide slot. The guide slot may be so designed that the trailing gripper half is lifted from the peripheral surface of the turning cylinder as the gripper is opened and at the same time moves in the peripheral direction from the leading gripper half. Alternatively, the same eflect can be produced by a strictly radial movement of the trailing I folding jaw but the latter will have to be lifted considerably in this case to ensure that the leg end portions are received under the jaw. In accordance with another proposal, the trailing gripper half may also be pivoted to the turning cylinder on an axis which is highly eccentric relative to the axis of the turning cylinder and succeeds the gripper opening in the direction of rotation. This arrangement will also ensure that the gripper half moves radially beyond the peripheral surface of the turning cylinder and at the same time moves in the peripheral direction from the leading gripper half and during its closing movement folds the end portions of the legs of the carrying handles into the gripper opening. Compared to a straight line guidance by a slot, the guidance described last haslthe advantage that the structure is simplified and is less susceptible to trouble. 1

Instead of a turning cylinder, other apparatus for carrying out the process according to the invention may be conceived. For instance, the folding cylinder may be provided with additional grippers for gripping theend portions of the legs of the carrying handles when these end portions have initially been turned over the rear whereas the intermediate portion of the carrying handle is gripped by the gripper and is released by it when said end portions are gripped by the additional grippers. The carrying handles will then have to be held by a turning plate and turned rearwardly as the movement of the gripped end'portions of legs of the carrying handlesis continued. The use of a turning cylinder has the advantage that the design will be simplified. Besides, the use of the apparatus which has been described hereinbefore will cause the intermediate portions of the handles to lie on the other side of the handle legs. 7

'A plurality of embodiments of the invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the drawing, in which FIG, 1 is a side elevation showing a first embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention, I v I FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate different operating positions of the apparatus shown in FIG. I, I

FIGS. 4 to 6 are side elevations showing different operating positions of a second embodiment,

FIG. 7 is a side elevation showing a third embodiment of an apparatusaccording to the invention and FIG. 8 shows a U-shaped carrying handle.

A machine which operates in accordance with the process according to the invention requires two-similar apparatus according to the invention, which are arranged one beside the other. Each of the side elevations in the drawings shows only one apparatus whereas the second apparatus is disposed directly behind the apparatuswhich is shown. Only one ap- 'paratus will be described hereinafter with reference to each embodiment. I

' The carrying handle blank 1 (FIG. 1) is conveyed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the folding cylinder and by means of a clamp, not shown, is held in a ready position near the folding cylinder 2. ,The arrested strip 1 is penetrated by a plurality of needles 3, e.g., three of such needles, which are secured to pivoted levers 4. Thexpivotal movement performed by the lovers 4 about a pivot 8 to cause the needles 3 to penetrate into the strip 1 and subsequently to withdraw the needles from the strip, 1 is controlled by a camwheel 5, a follower 6 and a second lever 7. The pivot 8 is carried by third levers 9, which by a cam-controlled further lever, not shown, are caused to perform an oscillating pivotalmovementin the direction of the double arrow 10 so that the stripl' is delivered to the folding cylinder 2 as the levers 9 approach the cylinder 2 and the strip is then gripped by one of the grippers 11 and 12. Each of the grippers 11 and 12 is pivoted on a pin 15 or 16, respectively,'and is moved by means of a stationary cam 17 in rolling contact with followers 20 and 21 carried by levers'l8 and 19;

When the strip 1 held by the grippers l1 engaging the intermediate portion ofthe strip continues to move with the folding cylinder 2, the strip 1' is moved into a scoring station 23, which consists of two rotating knives 22 and two grooves,

which are correspondingly arranged on the folding cylinder '2 laterally of the grippers l l and 12, respectively. In that scoring station, the strip is formed with two score lines, which extend at an angle of 45 and determine the subsequent folds. The strip 1 having slightly raised end portions owing to the score lines is subsequently movedclose to turning plates 24, which fold the end portions outof the peripheral surface of the folding cylinder and fold them down rearwardly about the 45 score lines so that these end portions now extend opposite to the direction of travel 25. The turning plates 24 are succeeded by two resilient pressure rollers 26 serving to roll-press the 45 I the direction of arrow 67, which is opposite to the direction of rotation of the folding cylinder 2. To open and close the grippers, each ring half is pivoted on a pine 38 or 39. The pins 38,

39 are secured by means not shown to a carrying plate, which is secured to the shaft 31. An adjustable stop 43 or 44 is mounted on the free end of each ring half 29 and 30 and bears on a hub 42 of the carrying plate, not shown, so that the closed position of each jaw 36 or 37 can be separately adjusted. Those halves of the folding grippers which are not actuated remain in their closed position under the action of compression springs 45 and 46 interposed between the ring halves and the hub of the carrying plate and are adapted to be opened by respective cams 47 and 48 independently of each other. Followers 49 and 50 ride on the cams 47 and 48 and transmit their movement to respective levers 51 and 52. Each of these levers is secured to a ring half and when actuated moves the same in the jaw-opening sense.

When the leg end portions 53 (FIGS. 1 and 8) which follow the intermediate portion 68 of the handle (FIG. 8) in the direction 25 pass through the nip between the folding and turning cylinders, the ring half 30 is opened in dependence on the course of the cam 48. The jaw 36 of that half succeeds the jaw 37 in the direction of rotation of the turning cylinder. When the outermost end portions of the legs of the carrying handles are disposed over the opened opening of the open gripper, these end portions are folded into the gripper opening by a folding knife 54 or 55, which is carried by the folding cylinder. The folding knives 54 and 55 are provided each with a roller 56 or 57 and are mounted on respective pivots 58 or 59 and spaced from the preceding gripper 11 or 12 by a distance which corresponds to the length of the carrying handle. The folding knives 54 and 55 are held in position of rest within the peripheral surface of the folding cylinder by a spring 60 or 61 and a stop 62 or 63. In accordance with the course of a stationary cam 64, the folding knife 54 or 55 is secured to the roller 56 or 57 by means of the roller 56 or 57 riding on the cam so that the folding knife protrudes for a short time from the peripheral surface of the folding cylinder to force the leg end portions into the opened gripper opening. As the movement is continued, the folding knife 55 (FIG. 2) is retracted whereas the folding gripper is closed in dependence on the course of cam 48. Thereafter the gripper 12 is opened in accordance with the cam 17 so that the carrying handle 27 is released by the folding cylinder. The carrying handle 27 is now transported only by the turning cylinder 28 and its now leading leg end portions are drawn into a nip 65 between the turning cylinder 28 and a deflecting plate 66, which extends around part of the periphery of the turning cylinder. During this operation, the carrying handle 27 is turned over opposite to the direction of travel 67 so that the intermediate portion of the handle now succeeds the leg end portions 53 in the direction of travel. To ensure a satisfactory turning of the carrying handle 27, the forward end portion 69 of the turning plate 66 is curved in accordance with the configuration of the intermediate portion of the handle during the turning operation. When the leg end portions 53 are still in the range of action of the turning plate 66, the leg end portions 53 are provided each with adhesive with the aid of respective applicator segments 70 (FIG. 1 That adhesive is supplied to the applicator segments 70 from a container 71 by means of a dip roller 73, which cooperates with a doctor 72. The deflecting plate 66 has an initial portion having a width a (FIG. 8) so that this portion leads the carrying handles throughout their width. In the range of action of the glue-applying segments 70, the deflecting plate has only the width b to enable an application of glue to the adhering portions of the legs of the carrying handles. As the movement is continued, the carrying handle 27 having leading leg end portions 53 is applied to the web 76, which moves in a corresponding direction 74 and has been unwound from a supply roll 75 and by means which are not shown has been provided with perforations. In the handle-applying zone (FIG. 3), the other gripper half 29, 37 is opened. The jaw 37 of that half leads the jaw 36 in the direction of rotation. The opening movement is performed as the follower 49 rides on the cam 47. The web 76 is supported in the applying zone by a resiliently mounted pressure roll 77, which cooperates with the pressure contact member of the jaw 36 to cause the carrying handle 27 to be adhered to the web. When the handle has been applied, the folding gripper closes in accordance with the course of cam 47 and remains closed until it is opened once more to receive the leg end portions of another carrying handle in the zone of contact between the folding and turning cylinders.

The strip-feeding device provided with the reciprocating needles and the scoring knives 22 (FIG. 1) are cyclically driven. The folding cylinder 2 and the glueing mechanism are also cyclically driven. The folding cylinder 2 performs onehalf of a revolution per cycle; this is due to its size and the provision of two grippers 11 and 12 and two folding knives 54 and 55. Depending on the desired length of the carrying bags to be made, a web section of the same length is moved in each cycle at a corresponding speed. For adaptation to the resulting velocity differences, the means for driving the turning cylinder comprise a differential gear, not shown, which is controlled by respective cams and which controls the turning cylinder to revolve at a velocity which corresponds to the velocity of the folding cylinder and of the glue-applying segment in corresponding ranges and to the web velocity in the handle-applying zone.

If a carrying handle 27 fails to be presented for any reason whatever, the adhesive-applying segments 70 are withdrawn from the turning cylinder 28 and the immersion dip roller 73 by means of a photocell control system, not shown. The shaft of the segments is movable in accordance with the double arrow 78.

The additional embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 is substantially similar to that of FIGS. 1-3. In that embodiment, however, a folding cylinder is provided which does not carry folding knives at its periphery. The infolding of the leg end portions 104 of the carrying handle 81 held by grippers to the folding cylinder 79 is effected by the gripper half 86, which succeeds in the direction of rotation 89 of the turning cylinder. These leg end portions 104 succeed in the direction of travel 82 (FIG. 4). For this infolding operation, the gripper half 86 is carried by a slider 98, which is movably mounted in a guide, which is formed by a lever 99, which is secured to the hub 92 and has a glide slot 100, which is open at that end which faces the peripheral surface of the turning cylinder. The slider 98 is received by the slot 100. The longitudinal center line of the guide slot 100 forms a secant of the turning cylinder 84 so that the gripper half 86 moved in the guide performs a movement which is composed of radial and peripheral components. The movement of the gripper half 86, which trails in the direction of travel 89, is controlled by a stationary double cam 10]. A follower 102 rides on the cam 101 and transmits its movement to a plunger 103, which is firmly connected to the slider 98. In other respects, the apparatus is identical to that shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. The carrying handle 81 is made in known manner and is held by grippers 80 (FIG. 4), which are carried by the folding cylinder 79 and engage the intennediate portion 68 (FIG. 8) of the handle and is moved in the direction of travel 82 into the zone of contact 83 between the folding cylinder 79 and turning cylinder 84. Shortly before the leg end portions 104 which succeed the intermediate portion of the handle in the direction of travel 82 pass the zone of contact 83 between the folding and turning cylinders, the cam 101 causes an opening movement of the gripper half 86, which succeeds in the direction of travel 89. The end portions 105 of the carrying handles now protrude beyond the leading gripper half 85 and are infolded by the gripper half 86 (FIG. 5), which during its continued movement assumes a closed position. Thereafter, the gripper 80 is opened in accordance with the cam 106 so that the carrying handle 81 is released by the folding cylinder 79. The carrying handle 81 is now transported only by the turning cylinder 84 and is drawn into a nip between the turning cylinder 84 and a guide plate 107, which extends about part of the periphery of the turning cylinder. Running up on the laterally bent end of the guide plate, the carrying handle 81 is turned over opposite to the direction of travel 89 so that the leg portions 104 of the carrying handle now lead the intermediate portion of the handle in the direction of travel 89 (FIG. 6). As is apparent from FIG. 1, glue is applied to the leg end portions 104 when the handle has been turned over. As the movementis continued, the carrying handle having leading leg end portions 104 (FIG. 6) is applied to the web 108 moving in the same direction. The gripper half 85 leading in the direction of travel 89 opens in the handle-applying zone 89, in which the web 108 is supported by a resiliently mounted pressure contact roller 109 to ensure a careful adhering of the carrying handles 81.

The further embodiment shown in FIG. 7 corresponds substantially to that shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 but its gripper half trailing in the direction of movement of the turning cylinder has a different design. This gripper half 110 (FIG. 7) has the form of a lever 1 11, which is rotatably mounted on a pin 112, which is secured to a carrying plate, not shown. The pin 112 is eccentrically mounted within the peripheral surface of the turning cylinder so that a pivotal movement of the gripper half 110 causes the gripping surface 113 thereof to move radially and in a peripheral direction from the opposite handle surface 114. The gripper half 110 is controlled by a double cam 115. A follower 1 16 riding on said cam 1 transmits its movement to a lever 117, which is firmly connected to the lever 111 forming the trailing gripper half 110.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for forming strips of flexible sheet material into U-shaped carrying handles and for applying said handles to a web intended for the manufacture of carrying bags, the apparatus comprising: a rotatable folding cylinder; first gripping means mounted on said folding cylinder for gripping said strips in their intermediate portions; folding means mounted on said folding cylinder for folding the end portions of said strips through 90 in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said folding cylinder, said strips being folded into U-shaped carrying handles such that their intermediate portions lead their end portions in the direction of rotation of said folding cylinder; a turning cylinder adjacent said folding cylinder, rotatable in a sense opposite to the sense of rotation of said folding cylinder; second gripping means mounted on said turning cylinder for gripping the end portions of said handles; stationary guiding means disposed adjacent the peripheral surface of said turning cylinder and shaped for turning said U-shaped handles through 180 from the direction of rotation of said handles when associated with said turning cylinder, such that the intermediate portions of said handles trail the end portions thereof; means for applying said turned U-shaped handles to said web; and means for controlling the operation of said first and said second gripping means such that said first gripping means opens to release the leading intermediate portions of said handles when said second gripping means has closed to grip the trailing end portions of said handles.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said second gripping means comprises a leading half and a trailing half, both said halves being movable, the trailing half being controlled to open to receive the carrying handles and the leading half being controlled to open to deliver the carrying handles to the web.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one of said gripping halves comprises a pressure member which is curved in accordance with the peripheral surface of the turning cylinder.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said guiding device consists of a guide plate which extends around part of the turning cylinder, which near the receiving zone has a width which corresponds to the total width of the carrying handles whereas the width of said guide plate in a succeeding portion is less than the distance between the inside edges of the end portions of the handles; and further comprising glue-applying segments for applying glue to the adhering portions of the legs of the carrying handles.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, and further comprising photocell control means for disengaging the glue-applying segments if a carrying handle fails to be presented.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising a varying ratio transmission for driving the turning cylinder so that said turning cylinder revolves at the peripheral velocity of the folding cylinder as it receives the carrying handles and at the web velocity as it delivers the carrying handle, said web velocity being variable in dependence on size.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the varying ratio transmission consists of a cam-controlled differential transmission having a cam which is selected in dependence on size.

8. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the trailing gripping half is adapted to be moved beyond the peripheral surface of the turning cylinder during the opening movement.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the trailing gripping half is carried by a slider which by means of a stationary cam is movable in a substantially radial guide slot.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the trailing gripping half is pivoted to the turning cylinder on an axis which is highly eccentric relative to the axis of the turning cylinder and which succeeds the opening of said second gripping means in the peripheral direction.

i i k 

1. Apparatus for forming strips of flexible sheet material into U-shaped carrying handles and for applying said handles to a web intended for the manufacture of carrying bags, the apparatus comprising: a rotatable folding cylinder; first gripping means mounted on said folding cylinder for gripping said strips in their intermediate portions; folding means mounted on said folding cylinder for folding the end portions of said strips through 90* in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said folding cylinder, said strips being folded into U-shaped carrying handles such that their intermediate portions lead their end portions in the direction of rotation of said folding cylinder; a turning cylinder adjacent said folding cylinder, rotatable in a sense opposite to the sense of rotation of said folding cylinder; second gripping means mounted on said turning cylinder for gripping the end portions of said handles; stationary guiding means disposed adjacent the peripheral surface of said turning cylinder and shaped for turning said U-shaped handles through 180* from the direction of rotation of said handles when associated with said turning cylinder, such that the intermediate portions of said handles trail the end portions thereof; means for applying said turned U-shaped handles to said web; and means for controlling the operation of said first and said second gripping means such that said first gripping means opens to release the leading intermediate portions of said handles when said second gripping means has closed to grip the trailing end portions of said handles.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said second gripping means comprises a leading half and a trailing half, both said halves being movable, the trailing half being controlled to open to receive the carrying handles and the leading half being controlled to open to deliver the carrying handles to the web.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one of said gripping halves comprises a pressure member which is curved in accordance with the peripheral surface of the turning cylinder.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said guiding device consists of a guide plate which extends around part of the turning cylinder, which near the receiving zone has a width which corresponds to the total width of the carrying handles whereas the width of said guide plate in a succeeding portion is less than the distance between the inside edges of the end portions of the handles; and further comprising glue-applying segments for applying glue to the adhering portions of the legs of the carrying handles.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, and further comprising photoCell control means for disengaging the glue-applying segments if a carrying handle fails to be presented.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising a varying ratio transmission for driving the turning cylinder so that said turning cylinder revolves at the peripheral velocity of the folding cylinder as it receives the carrying handles and at the web velocity as it delivers the carrying handle, said web velocity being variable in dependence on size.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the varying ratio transmission consists of a cam-controlled differential transmission having a cam which is selected in dependence on size.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the trailing gripping half is adapted to be moved beyond the peripheral surface of the turning cylinder during the opening movement.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the trailing gripping half is carried by a slider which by means of a stationary cam is movable in a substantially radial guide slot.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the trailing gripping half is pivoted to the turning cylinder on an axis which is highly eccentric relative to the axis of the turning cylinder and which succeeds the opening of said second gripping means in the peripheral direction. 